A PEEP AT THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 185 



mens brought home were obtained at Colville 

 during the winter months ; I also saw other very 

 fine specimens in the possession of two Indians, 

 in the Shimilkameen valley. It is found on the 

 Spokan plains, and in the adjoining forests, on 

 the Tobacco plains in the Kootanie district, and 

 on the slopes of the Galton range of hills. 



The trail follows the eastern slope of the 

 Galton mountains to the Flathead river, a good- 

 sized stream. The Flathead valley is about 4,005 

 feet above the sea-level, sandy and thinly tim- 

 bered ; such vegetation as there is, evidences a 

 particularly dry climate. From this valley, 

 after fording the stream, the ascent of the Rocky 

 Mountains commences, a gradual incline through 

 rather thick timber for some distance ; then over 

 a steep hill 6,970 feet above the sea, to descend 

 its eastern slope and reach a glen. Wild and 

 beautiful is the scenery on every side : right and 

 left stupendous pinnacle-like hills, white with 

 snow, seem to reach to the clouds ; ridge follows 

 ridge, each seeming to be more craggy and 

 massive than its fellow, as far as the eye can 

 scan this wondrous landscape. Aptly has this 

 great central axis of elevation been named the 



o 



Rocky Mountains; one is puzzled to imagine 

 how such masses of rock could have been up- 



